Faculty & Staff Achievements
2025-2026 Awards & Recognitions:
Kimberly Tarvis, Associate Professor
- SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching
Rebecca Burton, Assistant Director of Financial Aid
- SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Classified Service
Dana Weir, Assistant Professor
- Voted by students as the Outstanding Faculty Mentor of the Year
2024-2025 Awards & Recognitions:
Kimberly Tarvis, Associate Professor
- North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) Educator Award
2023-2024 Awards & Recognitions:
Dr. Amy Dechen Quinn, Professor and Department Chair of Fisheries, Wildlife, Environmental and Plant Sciences
- SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching
Tim Tefft, Supervising Janitor
- SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Professional Service
Dr. Grace Begany, Associate Professor
- Co-authored Open government data initiatives as agents of digital transgormation in the public sector: Exploring the extent of use among early adoptors, appearing in Government Information Quarterly, September 2024
Dr. Mahla Zare Mehrjerdi, Assitant Professor
- Authored the textbook Principles of Agricultural Microeconomics: An Introductory Guide
Kimberly Tarvis, Associate Professor
- Voted by students as the Outstanding Faculty Mentor of the Year
2022-2023 Awards & Recognitions:
Howard Huth, Director of the Paramedic Program
- SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Professional Service
Amanda Reinhart, Human Resources Operations Manager
- SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Classified Service
Kimberly Tarvis, Associate Professor
- Voted by students as the Outstanding Faculty Mentor of the Year
2021-2022 Awards & Recognitions:
Dr. Matt Lalonde, Assistant Vice President for Student Development
- SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Professional Service
Johanna "Jodi" Northrup, Administrative Assistant
- SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Classified Service
Elizabeth Raimondi-Moore, Adjunct Lecturer
- SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching
2020-2021 Awards & Recognitions:
Anita Wright, Director of Professional and Continuing Education
- Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service
Alisha Huth, Office Assistant
- Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Classified Service
Dr. Ben Weikert, Assistant Professor of Agriculture and Animal Science
- North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) Educator Award
2019-2020 Awards & Recognitions:
Dr. Stephen "Doc" Mackenzie, Professor of Canine Training & Management
- SUNY Distinguished Service Professorship Award
Dr. Anne Rogan, Professor of Agriculture & Food Management
- SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Faculty Service
Susan Brodie, Administrative Assistant
- SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Classified Service
Wendi Richards, Interim Director of the AR & Student Transition Services
- SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Professional Service
Dr. Sophie Ano, Associate Professor of Business, Food Service & Agricultural Management
- National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) Dr. JohnB. Riley Outstanding Student Advisor Award
Beard Wellness Center
- Gold Award from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA)
- Re-accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC)
2018-2019 Awards & Recognitions:
Kevin Moore, Adjunct Professor of Liberal Studies
- SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching
Donna Magill, Payroll Examiner
- SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Professional Service
Raymond Roes, Instructional Support Specialist, Agricultural Engineering
- SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Professional Service
Admissions Team
- Won “Telly Award” for video “Find Your Next Classroom”
Dr. Grace Begany, Assistant Professor of Business & Information Technology
- Awarded a PhD in Information Science from University at Albany’s College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, and Cybersecurity (CEHC)
Keith Buerker, Associate Professor of Agriculture & Food Management
- Received “CEC Emeritus” status from the American Culinary Federation
Cobleskill Auxiliary Services (CAS)
- Silver medal finish at Skidmore College’s American Culinary Federation Sanctioned Culinary Competition
Dr. Jason Evans, Director of the Institute of Rural Vitality and Department Chair of Agriculture and Food Management
- Named to 19th Congressional District Agriculture Advisory Committee
James Feldman, Director of Marketing & Communications
- Featured by industry outlets “Paperspecs.com” and “Printingnews.com” for SUNY Cobleskill’s “Vision Brochure”
Dr. Illona "Iggy" Gillette-Ferguson, Department Chair & Associate Professor of Natural Sciences & Mathematics
- Named “Woman of Distinction” by Alpha Psi chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma International Society for Key Women Educators
Susan Jagendorf, Executive Director of International Education
- Received Innovative Instructional Technology Grant from SUNY
Mike Lapi, Visiting Instructor for Agriculture & Food Management
- Winning team member at NY Beef Council “Farm to Fork” weekend
Dr. Roger Masse, Assistant Professor for Fisheries, Wildlife, & Enviromental Science
- Named New York National Wildlife Society (NTWS) Outstanding Professional of the Year
Kyle McCraith, Visiting Instructor for Animal Science
- Earned Master Trainer of Utility and Explosive Detector Teams certification from North American Police Work Dog Association
Jennifer Schorf, Graphic and Visual Communications Designer
- Featured by industry outlets “Paperspecs.com” and “Printingnews.com” for SUNY Cobleskill’s “Vision Brochure”
Cathy Wise, Library Clerk
- Completed degree in Criminal Justice
Anita Wright, Director of Professional & Continuing Education
- Identified by Future Farmers of America as instrumental to 50 years of women in FFA
Crystal Zettl, Senior Admissions Advisor
- Selected to participate in China-US Rising Star Study Tour (named “Most Dependable”)
2018-2019 Student Development Awards:
Stephanie Battisti, University Police Secretary
- Student Development Award for Innovation (College)
Rosie Kays, Senior Staff Assistant for Sports & Exercise
- New Staff Award recipient (College)
Zec Kehoe, Residence Hall Director
- New Staff Award recipient (College)
Katie Kollar
- Student Development Award for Commitment (College)
Jodi Northrup, Secretary for Center for Career Development
- Student Development Award for Commitment (College)
Danielle Reu, Counselor for the Wellness Center
- Student Development Award for Excellence (College)
2018-2019 Conferences and Presentations:
Mandy Babirad
- Invited to speak as a panelist for the Capital District Library Council (CDLC) Reference, Instruction, and Outreach Interest Group meeting on using the framework in higher education
Matthew Barney, Coordinator of Campus Engagement & Orientation
- Coordinated and hosted SUNY Fraternity Sorority Advisor Association Annual Conference
Peter Barvoets, Interim Director of the Library
- Presented a workshop on Open Educational Resources (OER) & Introduced and coordinated Open Educational Resources (OER) to SUNY Cobleskill faculty
Manar el-Bayoumi, Internation Education
- Fulbright Presentation “On Being an Egyptian Muslim Woman”
Dr. Grace Begany, Assistant Professor of Business & Information Technology
- Presented at University at Albany’s School of Public Health (SPH) by invitation of the SPH leadership
Barbara Brabetz, Professor for Natural Sciences & Mathematics and Presiding Officer of the Faculty
- Presented at the 11th Annual Mohawk Watershed Symposium
Dr. Amy Corbett, Professor for Early Childhood and Psychology
- Presented at the National Institute for Teaching of Psychology
Dr. Chip Cotton, Assistant Professor for Fisheries, Wildlife, & Environmental Science
- Presented at an International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) assessment workshop in the Bahamas
- Invited to Okinawa (Japan) Aquarium to investigate the efficacy of underwater sonogram to non-lethally assess the reproductive stage of captive, pregnant deep-water
April Davies, Associate Librarian
- Presented “It will work: adapting a weighted allocation formula for a different climate” at national conference in SC
Suzanne Fine, Associate Professor for Early Childhood & Psychology
- Attended annual New York State Association for the Education of Young Children (NYS-AEYC) Conference with two members of faculty and 12 Early Childhood students
Dr. Kathleen Gillespie, Assistant Professor for Natural Science & Mathematics
- Presented “The Poetry in Science: Creative Writing Workshop for Science Communications” at the Cultivating Ensembles in STEM Education and Research (CESTEMER) 2019 Conference at NYIT
Dr. Carmen Greenwood, Associate Professor for Fisheries, Wildlife, & Environmental Science
- Invited to present at numerous tick workshops and lectures
Dr. Mary Guerrant, Assistant Professor for Early Childhood & Psychology
- Participated in Symposium at the National Multicultural Conference and Summit in Denver
Howard Huth, Director of the Paramedic Program
- Participated in a symposium at the National Multicultural Conference and Summit in Denver
Don LaPlant, Associate Librarian
- Participated in Capital District Library Council symposium on Preparing High School Students for College Level Research
Marny Mansfield, Associate Professor for Animal Science
- Selected to join panel at Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH) Intl.’s 50-year anniversary conference in CO
Dr. Carol Morris, Assistant Professor for Early Childhood & Psychology
- Presented at Capital District Child Care Council’s (CDCCC) Infant-Toddler Conference
- Coordinated hosting of multiple conferences on campus in cooperation with Schoharie County ACEs team and CDCCC
- Coordinated participation in the New York State Association for Infant Mental Health (NYS-AIMH) annual meeting at SUNY Cobleskill, hosting professionals from across NYS
- Attended annual New York State Association for the Education of Young Children (NYS-AEYC) Conference with two members of faculty and 12 Early Childhood students
Donna Pesta, Director of the Center for Career Development
- Presented at SUNY Applied Learning Conference – Coby Quest Team
Patricia Piatov, Assistant Professor for Business & Information Technology
- Participated in invitation-only “Service and Retailing Think Tank” at Fordham University
Dr. Anne Rogan, Professor for Agriculture & Food Management
- Presented at the annual meeting of the NYS Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, – “The 2018 Farm Bill & Food Supply: Will Congress Get it Right”
Phil Sexton, Adjunt Instructor for Animal & Plant Science
- Presented at 2018 Lake Champlain Watershed Deicing Conference
- Moderated a Snow & Ice Management Association (SIMA) Salt Supply and Procurement Panel at 2019 SIMA Snow and Ice Symposium in Grand Rapids, MI
Kimberly Tarvis, Assistant Professor for Animal Science
- Facilitated two workshops at the Sigma Alpha National Convention in Phoenix
Julie Takacs, Adjunt Faculty for Liberal Studies
- Presented “Altered Books” workshop series at Fort Plain (NY) Free Library
Deborah Veith
- Coordinated Liberty Youth Fair
Dr. Gail Wentworth, Professor of Early Childhood Studies
- Presented at “Aging Concerns Unite Us” conference, Albany, NY
- Presented at “Aging in America” conference, New Orleans
- Presented at “NYS Department of Health Annual Providers’ Conference”, Albany, NY
Amy Wilson, Adjunct Lecturer for Liberal Studies
- Presented “Modern Technology Meets an Ancient Site: Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI) and 3D Modeling at Wadi el-Hudi, Egypt” before the Syracuse Society of the Archaeological Institute of America
- Fulbright presentation “On Being a Foreign Woman in Egypt”
- Presented “The Egyptian Revolution of 2011 as Told Through Graffiti” for Schoharie Home of Ongoing Learning (SCHOOL)
Bruce Wright
- Presented at third annual Precision Ag Workshop at Genesee Community College
Kelly Yacobucci, First Year Experience Coordinator
- Led student-presenters to Northeast Regional Honors Council Conference in Baltimore
2018-2019 Publications:
Dr. Grace Begany, Assistant Professor of Business & Information Technology
- Served as academic journal peer-reviewer for “Behavior and Information Technology” and “Journal of the Association of Information Science and Technology”
Dr. Mary Guerrant, Assistant Professor for Early Childhood & Psychology
- Peer reviewed publication in the Journal of School Psychology: “Geographically Representative Scholarship and Internationalization in School and Educational Psychology: A Bibliometric Analysis of Eight Journals from 2002-2016”
Erik Hage, Professor for Communications
- Authored and contributed two reviews to “Harvard Review”
- Authored and contributed two essays to “Twentieth Century and Contemporary American Literature in Context” (publishing planned for 2019)
Don LaPlant, Associate Librarian
- Submitted an invited chapter for inclusion in the upcoming book “Hidden Architectures of Information Literacy Programs” to be published in early 2020 by the American Library Association
- Published a praxis article in the “SUNYLA News” – the official newsletter of the SUNY Librarians Association
Dr. Charles Moran, Department Chair and Professor for Business & Information Technology
- Associate Editor of “Journal of Financial Service Professionals”
Dr. Anne Rogan, Professor for Agriculture & Food Management
- Published “Geographically Representative Scholarship and Internationalization in School and Educational Psychology: A Bibliometric Analysis of Eight Journals from 2002-2016” in “Journal of School Psychology”
- Reviewer for “FY 2019 Applied Research and Extension Plans” for NYS
Eric Struening, Instructional Support Assistant for Fisheries, WIldlife, & Environmental Science
- Featured for leadership with “NY iMapiInvasives” program
2018-2019 Leadership:
Matthew Barney, Coordinator of Campus Engagement & Orientation
- Led student-volunteer initiative in Tennessee (Alternate Spring Break)
Johnathan Behrens, Deputy Director of the Paramedic Program
- Partnered with Albany Medical Center to become national “Stop the Bleed” instructor
Katherine Brent, Associate Librarian
- Web manager for SUNYLA & Earned certified administrator status for Alma & Primo & institutional lead for migration
JoAnne Cloughly, Professor for Agriculture & Food Management
- Chairperson, Regional SkillsUSA Commercial Baking Competition at SCCC, and State SkillsUSA Commercial Baking Competition
- Organized and hosted Bassett 5210 Junior Iron Chef Competition on campus
April Davies, Associate Librarian
- Chair, Publications Committee, SUNY Librarians Association; Collection Development Committee, Capital District Library Council & Acquisitions Working Group, SUNY Libraries Consortium
Carrie Edsall, Visiting Instructor for Animal Science
- Coached first place winning team and individual at International Post-Secondary Dairy Judging Contest in WI
Wendy Gilman, Vice President for Business & Finance
- Reelected secretary of SUBOA – professional organization for the SUNY state-operated business officers
Dr. Mary Guerrant, Assistant Professor for Early Childhood & Psychology
- Named Fellow of the Institute for Rural Vitality
Emma Paden, Assistant Equine Manager
- Named Fellow of the Institute for Rural Vitality
Abbey Perkins, Academic Advisor for Educational Support Services
- Earned SUNY Center for Professional Development Assessment of Learning Outcomes Certificate
Thomas Poltynski, Farm Coordinator
- Graduated police academy
Joseph Santiago
- Assumed seat on Air & Surface Transport Nurses Association Publications Committee
Steve Weir, Assistant Professor for Agriculture & Food Management
- Named Fellow of the Institute for Rural Vitality
- Coordinated ongoing collaborations with Farm Credit East including teaching College’s first “Farm Credit Fellows” course
Elise Weiss, Interim Chair and Assistant Professor for Early Childhood & Psychology
- Led College’s Early Childhood Club’s Scholastic Book Fair and Drive for children receiving treatment at Cobleskill Hospital
- Coordinated student-certificate awards for qualifications to teach the Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC’s) “Growing Up WILD”
Dr. Gail Wentworth, Professor of Early Childhood Studies
- Named senior fellow of the Institute for Rural Vitality
Dr. Tara Winter, Chief Strategic Planning & Institutional Effectiveness Officer
- Completed the Institutional Effectiveness Certificate Program (w/ Distinction) through SUNY Center for Professional Development
2018-2019 Partnerships:
Dr. Sophie Ano, Associate Professor for Agriculture & Food Management
- Partnered on pedestrian safety initiative with Universidad de Celaya (Mexico)
Neil Ashton, Visiting Assistant Professor for Fisheries, Wildlife, & Environmental Science
- Joined Fisheries and Wildlife faculty through a Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) collaboration/award – first such position at SUNY Cobleskill”
Dr. Chip Cotton, Assistant Professor for Fisheries, Wildlife, & Environmental Science
- Part of team that discovered new species of deep-sea shark
Dr. Andrew Gascho Landis, Assistant Professor for Fisheries, Wildlife, & Environmental Science
- Lead SUNY Cobleskill’s partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA- NRCS), and Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) to host Grasstravaganza conference
Howard Huth, Director of the Paramedic Program
- Co-presented “Stop the Bleed” session at the Safe, Prepared, and Effective Learning Environments Inaugural Summit at University at Albany
Elise Weiss, Interim Chair and Assistant Professor for Early Childhood & Psychology
- Formed collaboration with Schoharie County ACEs team
2018-2019 Exhibitions:
- Faculty Biennial Art Show, Cobleskill, NY
- “A Need for Change” Panel on Contemporary Stereotypes, Cobleskill, NY
- “A Story Told Through Trees” exhibit at Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown, NY